When it comes to the FedEx Cup playoffs, what happens at the bottom of the standings can be just as interesting as what happens with the leaders. The first event of this stage of the current season was no exception, with several heartbreaking stories in Memphis.
Several players arrived at the FedEx St. Jude Championship four rounds of golf ahead of finishing inside the top 50. However, they couldn’t perform to their full potential and fell outside that select group.
Five Players Who Lost Their Spot in the FedEx Cup Top 50
The players who finished inside the FedEx Cup top 50 not only guarantee their PGA Tour card for another year but also a spot in the field for all the signature events for next season.
Let’s take a look at who lost that chance in Memphis:
1. Aldrich Potgieter
Aldrich Potgieter capped off a season of many ups and downs with a T59 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The South African, who was ranked 43rd coming in, dropped nine spots to 52nd after a horrible 3-over at TPC Southwind.
However, Potgieter has secured his card for the next two seasons thanks to his victory at the Rocket Classic.
2. Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth entered the FedEx St. Jude Championship ranked 48th. However, rounds of 69, 70, 70, and 68 failed to maintain his position and he fell to 54th, missing the BMW Championship for the second consecutive year.
Spieth is not guaranteed full membership for next season, so he must finish in the top 100 of the rankings after the FedEx Cup Fall.
3. Jake Knapp
Jake Knapp entered the first FedEx Cup playoff event ranked 47th, but had a very poor performance in Memphis, carding 5-over to finish tied for 62nd. This dropped him to 55th in the standings.
Knapp has secured his PGA Tour card through the end of next season thanks to his victory at the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta.
4. Wyndham Clark
Wyndham Clark came close to getting the job done, as after 54 holes, he was included in the top 30 of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. However, a final-round 5-over 75 ended his aspirations and dropped him from 49th to 56th in the rankings.
Clark also has his PGA Tour card secured for several years, thanks to his victories at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the 2023 US Open.
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5. Min Woo Lee
Min Woo Lee virtually sealed his fate at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and in the FedEx Cup rankings by carding a first-round 76. He then carded consecutive 72s and a final-round 70 to drop from 50th to 57th in the standings.
Lee maintains full PGA Tour status for next season thanks to his victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open last March.
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